2023-24 End of Season

2022-24 End of Season

MGHL Annual General Meeting

May 3, 2024

Opening

Meeting Called to Order at 20:45 at 154 Woodland Dr, Fort McMurray, AB by Nathaniel Gibson

Representatives in Attendance

  • Slappers – Jason Comeau
  • Fur Traders – Jesse MacPherson
  • Hounds – Chris Cryderman
  • Old Stock – Leon Snook
  • Storm – Ian Macneil
  • Assassins – Eric Leathem
  • Canucks – Joel Hadley
  • Jets – Steve Hulan
  • Peckers – Josh Kellert
  • Ref Riders – Nolan Kearney
  • Otters – BJ Fitzpatrick
  • Kraken – Shawn Weber

Representatives/Executives Absent

  • Treasurer – Ken Ball
  • Moose – Rick Bowman
  • Braves – Shay Laurent
  • Royals – Evan Morrison
  • Warthogs – Kevin Meacher
  • North Stars – Shayne King
  • Ravens – Ben Jammin
  • Red Army – Tristan Cook
  • Griffins – Austin Lannon
  • Gabagoons – Tyler Decker
  • Killa Bees – Justin Kelly
  • Prairie Wolves – Dustin Nokohoo

Meeting Agenda

Agenda was unanimously approved as distributed by email on March 15, 2024, prior to meeting start.

Approval of Minutes

  • Minutes from meeting on August 23, 2023, reviewed and approved by members in attendance.
  • New Business
  • Reviewed of 2023-24 Season
  • Reviewed total number of Games played (498)
  • Reviewed number of Forfeits (43 Games)
  • Reviewed number of Suspensions (65 Suspensions
  • Reviewed Division Champs
    • A Division – Braves
    • B Division – Canucks
    • C Division – Pylons
  • Reviewed Final Standings throughout divisions.
  • Financial Review
    • Total Amount collected in Fees - $229600 (Note the fees are $400 short as the league had never paid for its Logo from Jason Blundon so his team was given a $400 discount to compensate Jason.)
    • Total Amount of Fines given out to teams - $993.75 with only $730.75 collected. Will be added to teams fees for next season to finish collecting.
  • Reviewed breakdown of costs.
    • Mac Island - $56,381.06
    • Frank Lacroix - $45,471.98
    • Centerfire Place - $31,994.07
    • Referees - $73,487.50
    • Insurance - $13,600.00
    • Website - $478.78
    • Trophies – $466.25
  • Total amount remaining in the bank account as of today - $8,496.61

Game Flow Requirements

  • Discussed the expected flow of game to ensure we fit within our 1 hour and 15 minutes of allocated ice times. (75 Min)
    • Warm-up (5 Min)
    • 1st Period (30 Min)
    • Intermission (1.5 Min)
    • 2nd Period (30 Min)
    • Intermission (1.5 Min)
    • Overtime (7 Min)
  • Determined acceptable bylaw (Bylaw #8 – Flow of Game) update to ensure teams have incentive to arrive on time for the game to start.
    • 5 Minutes to be started at beginning of Ice Slot to ensure players are aware of how much time they have to complete Warm-up.
    • If 1 team does not have enough players to start the game (6 Skaters & 1 Goaltender), the clock will commence following the 5 minute warm-up.
    • If the game clock has been started and the team produces enough players to start the game they will be assessed a 3 minute Minor Penalty for delay of game.
    • If the game clock has started and surpasses the 15 minute mark the offending team shall forfeit the game.
  • Asked about the acceptable time for a player to join the game. Leon Snook of the Old Stock and Jesse Macpherson of the Fur Traders voiced that each player pays their fees and likely if joining late were delayed due to work or other personal circumstances. All in attendance agreed and no rule was created to dictate when a player could join a game. No update to Bylaw required.
  • Discussed the Overtime rules for the regular season games and reviewed the possibility of a 3 man Shoot-out. The majority of teams in attendance felt the 7 minute 3 on 3 was acceptable and no change was required.
  • As there was a altercation in the playoffs this year the league proposed removing the handshake line from Play-off games mid series. This is to ensure that no bad blood is causing issues as players do not interact more than necessary during the series. The Majority of teams agreed to this change. Handshakes will only be required after each regular season game and at the elimination game of each series in the play-offs.

Rule 9.5 – High Sticking

  • Discussed Hockey Canada Rule 9.5 – High Sticking as it pertained to League Bylaw #13 – High Sticking (a). Hockey Canada does not require a Game Ejection for the accidental high sticking of a player. League Bylaw #13 (a) states – “Accidental High Sticking drawing blood will be assessed as a double minor and game ejection for the offending player.” As this is accidental teams feel losing the player is unfair. The Majority of teams agreed that Bylaw is to be updated to Remove the Game Ejection Penalty.

Suspension Rubric Review

  • Went through the suspension Rubric Line by Line and got feedback on acceptable lengths. A few changes were made as listed below.
    • 10 Minute Misconduct in last 10 Minutes Changed to 0 Games.
    • Body Checking (Rule 7.3 (b)) and Charging (Rule 7.4 (b)) Swapped lengths.
    • Body Checking Major is now - 1st – 1, 2nd – 2, 3rd – 3
    • Charging Major is now – 1st – 2, 2nd – 3, 3rd – 5.
    • Charging Match is now – 1st – 5, 2nd – 10, 3rd – 15.
    • 3rd man in (Rule 7.10 (e)) was adjusted so if the 3rd man in a scrum is in a peace keeping/de-escalating role there is no suspension.
    • Unsportsmanlike Game Misconduct (Rule 11.1 (e)) will now be, 1st – 0, 2nd – 2, 3rd – 4.
    • Discriminatory Penalties under Rule 11.4 will now be 1st – 5, 2nd – 10, 3rd – 15.
    • All Misconducts below are determined by the discipline committee based on referee report.
      • 11.2 (e) – Harassment / Abuse of Officials – Game Misconduct
      • 11.2 (f) – Harassment / Abuse of Officials – Gross Misconduct
      • 11.3 (c) – Spittng – Match Penalty
      • 11.5 (c) – Physical Harassment of Officials

Bylaw #5 Review

  • Discussed the issue of players playing for multiple teams and all in attendance were still good with the process as outlined below if a player is required for a team to play their ice time. This process ensures there is no backing out of an agreement mid game as both teams were made aware prior to game start.
    1. Team requesting player (Team 1) contacts an Executive member with the players name and the team the player is rostered on.
    2. Executive contacts other team scheduled to play (Team 2) and informs them of the player requested and the team they are currently rostered on.
    3. Team 2 agrees to player joining or rejects the player from joining.
    4. Executive informs Team 1 of the agreement or rejection.
  • Concern with high level players joining lower divisions, for example any player with an elite prospects page. Teams in attendance believed it to be too hard to track and enforce. No new rule created.

League Officials

  • Discussed the league taking over the officials to start the next season. Nathaniel voiced concern as the current contractor (GRAF) would consistently refuse to adjust officials on games leaving some games with lower skilled officials while other games had multiple high skill officials. Steve Hulan said that it is best not to try and reinvent the wheel again this season and continue as is for next season. Other teams in attendance agreed and no changes were made.

Ice Allocation

  • Discussed all dates teams would like to avoid having games on. Teams voiced that Thanksgiving Weekend (Oct 11-14) as well as teachers convention (Feb 24 – Mar 1) would be a nice addition to blackout dates. Christmas Break will match the FMPSD Christmas break (Dec 20 – Jan 5).
  • Discussed utilizing Fort McKay arena again as a request was made prior to the meeting by Shay Laurent of the Braves. No teams in attendance showed interest in travel to Fort McKay for games.
  • Asked what the latest start time would be best for teams for us to try and work around. Determined that start times from 8:30 – 10:15 PM would be best.
  • Steve brought up a dislike for Mac 1 ice surface, many other teams stated they enjoyed it and Eric Leatham informed those in attendance that work is to be done to improve the areas that can be improved.
  • Teams in attendance wanted to know about the start date. Without allocation the earliest start date possible is Sept 1st. Chris Cryderman of the Hounds voiced concern with starting prior to Labor Day (Sep 2nd) as some players may be out of town. Others in attendance agreed so Sept 4th was selected as the start date to be requested.

League Expansion & Divisional Alignment

  • Nate presented 3 teams that would be joining and pointed out the representatives in attendance.
    • Summit Geo Otters
    • Ref Riders
    • Kraken Beers
  • Presented the projected divisional alignments based on standings and divisional champs as well as the change back to 4 divisions which allows for slightly more skill separation. Teams voiced a concern with the alignment as they don’t believe they belong in the divisions they were moved to. Divisional Alignment below.
    • A Division
      • Moose
      • Braves
      • Slappers
      • Jets
      • Canucks
    • B Division
      • Gabagoons
      • Furtraders
      • Assassins
      • Kraken Beers
      • Northstars
      • Old Stock
      • Royals
      • Wildcats
    • C Division
      • Otters
      • Ref Riders
      • Storm
      • Prairie Wolves
      • Killa Bees
      • Warthogs
      • Hounds
    • D Division
      • Griffins
      • Knights
      • Peckers
      • Pylons
      • Red Army
      • Ravens
  • To control the concern teams agreed to changing the realignment timeline to every 10 games. This should mean that we have up to 3 realignments.

League Information & Additional Information

  • Reviewed the League Logo, Trophies and Plaques with all in attendance. None in favor of creating a new logo, getting replacement Plaques or handing out unused trophies.
  • Asked if anyone was interested in holding an election at our next meeting. No one supported an election however Jesse MacPherson voiced that Leo Warren would like to join in some capacity.
  • Jason Comeau asked if the referees could be removed from the discipline committee and give the control back to the players. This included the removal of Steve and Nathaniel as they also referee. After discussion Steve volunteered to remove himself from the committee and multiple reps volunteered to join. The committee will consist of the below breakdown.
    • 5 Team reps
    • 2 Referees (Including Executive Member) 
  • Reps that volunteered to join the committee were as follows. Nathaniel to follow up with current members and at the next meeting present the new Committee.
    • Chris Cryderman – Hounds
    • Shawn Weber – Kraken beers
    • Jesse MacPherson – Furtraders
    • Nolan Kearney – Ref Riders

Adjournment

  • Nathaniel Gibson Adjourned the meeting at 22:40, Next Mee􀆟ng to be scheduled at a later date for completion prior to start of season.